Author	Message
Kim McCarthy Member	# Posted: 19 Aug 2006 13:33:13 Hi, Need help, going to be in Thailand in Jan but only for a week. Flying into bangkok but wanted to meet up with a friend in Phuket. DOes anyone know how long it woudl take me to get there and by what means and costs? Is it worth it or shoud I just stick to the Bangkok area for the few days that I am there? What do people recommend I do & see whilst there? Does anyone know about the elephants in thailand?

Simon Templar Member Malaysia	# Posted: 23 Aug 2006 10:39:00 Hi Kim, There are a lot of activities in Phuket. It depends on which area of Phuket that you are staying. One of the most famous is Patong Beach, the location where most people will be heading to. You can stay in Thai Oriental Inn (http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/ThaiOrientalInn-PatongBea ch-13359). It might cost you around USD12.5~USD20 per nite because January is the peak season. It's very clean and the staff are very polite and friendly as well. Avarage meal it cost you around USD2. Again it depends on what type of restaurants that you go for. Local delicacies are much cheaper. There are many interesting places, particularly beach. Try Phi Phi Island, Krai Island and Bond Island. You can laze in one of those island. Then can also go to Fantasea Show (voted as the best toursit spot in whole Thailand), Simon Cabaret Show (Tranvestites show), bunjee jumping and a lots more. Basically you don't have to worry much as there are a lot of tour booth right not far from every single hotel. You can customized your own tour destination. When the sun falls, if you would like to go for a drink, hit Bangla road. You can get cheap beers and party whole nite long. There are a lot color nite spots with a lot of pole dancing. To me, Thai Oriental Inn is strategically located where you can never had enough fun. Again, it depends on individual Bring USD400 is good enough for a 7D/6N, food, accomodation and tours. Oh yea, one more thing...you might bump into those road side stalls selling souviniers, if you are not interest, don't even touch it. Or else they will keep on pestering you to buy from them. Just politely tell them..."No, thank you..." Hopefully you will enjoy your trip to Phuket...
Dannii Member United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 1 Sep 2006 12:00:49 Hey I did the similar jaunt in March. We stayed in BKK for a couple of days ... Staying ouside of Khoa San before heading to le backpackers strip. D+D Inn is lushious with a swimming pool on the roof , and for only £7.50 per night. Cant be bad . If not try The Sawasdee Banglumpu Inn , really nice too n Internet access downstairs n breakfast included. Try out Gullivers bar as well and mooch to Rambutree strip too if you get the chance. About the street vendors. Just have your wits about you , try not to give eye contact , stride past and say politely ' Mai Pen rai' ( Meaning 'it doesn't matter'). We went to a backstreet travel office and bought a cheap internal flight to Phuket. I think the flight took about 2 hours and set us back about £45. We headed straight to Patong beach , was pretty ropey and reminded me of Blackpool but everyone's take on a place is different , so don't be deterred from my comments. Lots of ppl love Phuket , just maybe research other areas that aren't so touristy and trashy. We stayed in the Aramani hotel , was really lushious too and about a ten minute walk to the beach. If you can try and head to Krabi , really lovely and check out le rasta bar n Charlie's bar ( Old West bar) and try the Timebomb Cocktail. Have fun lady Danniixx
Dannii Member United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 1 Sep 2006 12:03:34 Hey I did the similar jaunt in March. We stayed in BKK for a couple of days ... Staying ouside of Khoa San before heading to le backpackers strip. D+D Inn is lushious with a swimming pool on the roof , and for only £7.50 per night. Cant be bad . If not try The Sawasdee Banglumpu Inn , really nice too n Internet access downstairs n breakfast included. Try out Gullivers bar as well and mooch to Rambutree strip too if you get the chance. About the street vendors. Just have your wits about you , try not to give eye contact , stride past and say politely ' Mai Pen rai' ( Meaning 'it doesn't matter'). We went to a backstreet travel office and bought a cheap internal flight to Phuket. I think the flight took about 2 hours and set us back about £45. We headed straight to Patong beach , was pretty ropey and reminded me of Blackpool but everyone's take on a place is different , so don't be deterred from my comments. Lots of ppl love Phuket , just maybe research other areas that aren't so touristy and trashy. We stayed in the Aramani hotel , was really lushious too and about a ten minute walk to the beach. If you can try and head to Krabi , really lovely and check out le rasta bar n Charlie's bar ( Old West bar) and try the Timebomb Cocktail. Have fun lady Danniixx
spikeyrich Member United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 9 Nov 2006 04:12:21 For any flights around thailand (and other nearby countries) check out www.airasia.com. There are some bargain flights. Bangkok to Phuket takes around an hour. There are elephants all over the shop...there are plenty of them in northern Thailand around Chang Mai. Carefull if you go to an elephant show though, people get squashed! you have been warned!! Have fun! as you think so you are, as you imagine so you become
HorseHead Mcgee Member	# Posted: 1 Dec 2006 18:30:55 Ditto, fly into bangkok and get a connector through Air Asia to phuket. It's a pretty common route, so there are plenty of flights, and the ticket is usally less than $50 US. If your only staying a week, Patong is probably the place to go, as everything is right there...but Karon and Kata Beaches are a little more laid back and the hotel deals can be a little better. Your only issue may be that you will arrive in BKK at night (9:00pm, 10:00pm).